I am writing to voice my concern about the current proposal of the I-26 bypass crossing over Patton Ave in West Asheville as part of the I-26 Connector Project led by NCDOT. A dominating highway structure will severely bifurcate West Asheville from the rest of town and the long-term impacts on our community have not been thoroughly considered.

While the I-26 Connector project will improve safety and traffic congestion on Patton Ave, a towering overhead 8-lane freeway is not friendly toward pedestrian traffic and creates physical and psychological barriers between West Asheville and the East side of the river. Behind closed doors, NCDOT allowed the lowest bidder to incorporate this once-refuted design into their proposal. This significant design change in conjunction with the damage from Hurricane Helene warrants further conversation to ensure the development of our local economy, real estate values, and public health do not suffer.

I support the I-26 Citizens' Coalition's request for the City to perform a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on both alternative bypass designs (going over and going under Patton Ave) to review additional tradeoffs beyond the initial costs of construction. There are solutions to explore and consider before final designs are complete and construction has begun.

In accepting this bid, NCDOT has discarded decades of civic feedback, and six months after Helene, our community is still deeply grieving. Yet as we rebuild and add new infrastructure, we mustn't overlook long-term benefits for short-term gain. It's the only just option to serve the citizens of Asheville for generations to come.